Truths for Pondering at Christmas

Galatians 4:1–7 (NLT)

1 Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had.

2 They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set.

3 And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world.

4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”

7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

4:1 Λέγω δέ, ἐφʼ ὅσον χρόνον ὁ κληρονόμος νήπιός ἐστιν, οὐδὲν διαφέρει δούλου κύριος πάντων ὤν,

2 ἀλλὰ ὑπὸ ἐπιτρόπους ἐστὶ καὶ οἰκονόμους ἄχρι τῆς προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός.

3 οὕτως καὶ ἡμεῖς, ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι, ὑπὸ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου ἤμεθα δεδουλωμένοι·

4 ὅτε δὲ ἦλθεν τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ χρόνου, ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ, γενόμενον ἐκ γυναικός, γενόμενον ὑπὸ νόμον,

5 ἵνα τοὺς ὑπὸ νόμον ἐξαγοράσῃ, ἵνα τὴν υἱοθεσίαν ἀπολάβωμεν.

6 ὅτι δέ ἐστε υἱοί, ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὰς καρδίας ἡμῶν, κρᾶζον· Αββα ὁ πατήρ.

7 ὥστε οὐκέτι εἶ δοῦλος ἀλλὰ υἱός· εἰ δὲ υἱός, καὶ κληρονόμος διὰ θεοῦ.

INTRODUCTION:

I- AT CHRISTMAS, WE NEED TO REFLECT ON WHERE WE WOULD BE WITHOUT JESUS. (Galatians 4:1-3)

Galatians 4:1–3 (NLT)

1 Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had.

2 They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set.

3 And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world.

4:1 Λέγω δέ, ἐφʼ ὅσον χρόνον ὁ κληρονόμος νήπιός ἐστιν, οὐδὲν διαφέρει δούλου κύριος πάντων ὤν,

2 ἀλλὰ ὑπὸ ἐπιτρόπους ἐστὶ καὶ οἰκονόμους ἄχρι τῆς προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός.

3 οὕτως καὶ ἡμεῖς, ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι, ὑπὸ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου ἤμεθα δεδουλωμένοι·

A- Unable to access all that the Father has provided. (Galatians 4:1-2)

Galatians 4:1–2 NLT

1 Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had. 2 They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set.

1- Like a young child (νήπιός) is unable to access the riches of his father, the unbeliever is unable to access the gifts that God wishes to give.

a. Spiritual laws prevent the unbeliever from accessing the gifts of eternal life and the Holy Spirit until the prerequisites are fulfilled.

For the young child it is the age of majority set by the father.

For the unbeliever, it is repentance and faith producing the new birth.

(Mark 1:15)

Mark 1:15 NLT

15 “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

(John 3:7)

John 3:7 NLT

7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’

B- In bondage to the basic principles of the world. (Galatians 4:3)

Galatians 4:3 NLT

3 And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world.

(3 οὕτως καὶ ἡμεῖς, ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι, ὑπὸ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου ἤμεθα δεδουλωμένοι·)

1- Before Christ came, we were under bondage to the “basic spiritual principles of this world.”

a. The laws that condemned us. (Galatians 3:23-25)

Galatians 3:23–25 NLT

23 Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed. 24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. 25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.

b. The laws of sin and death.

(Romans 5:12)

Romans 5:12 NLT

12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

(Romans 6:23)

Romans 6:23 NLT

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

II- AT CHRISTMAS, WE NEED TO REMEMBER WHAT LENGTHS GOD WENT TO TO SEND JESUS. (Galatians 4:4-5)

Galatians 4:4–5 (NLT)

4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

( ὅτε δὲ ἦλθεν τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ χρόνου, ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ, γενόμενον ἐκ γυναικός, γενόμενον ὑπὸ νόμον,

5 ἵνα τοὺς ὑπὸ νόμον ἐξαγοράσῃ, ἵνα τὴν υἱοθεσίαν ἀπολάβωμεν. )

A- Working out the exact timing of the incarnation of Christ. (Galatians 4:4a)

(Galatians 4:4a)

Galatians 4:4 (NLT)

4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

4 ὅτε δὲ ἦλθεν τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ χρόνου, ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ, γενόμενον ἐκ γυναικός, γενόμενον ὑπὸ νόμον,

1- The right political situation was in place - “The Roman Peace”

2- The right religious climate was in place.

a. The Jewish people were ready for the messiah, though they expected the wrong type of messiah.

b. The Gentile world was religiously empty even though they had many gods.

3- The Roman census and taxation set the stage for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem.

3- The form of Roman execution was death by crucifixion.

4- The Roman road system facilitated the rapid spread of the Gospel message.

B- Fulfilling the scriptures in the life, death and resurrection of Christ. (Galatians 4:4b)

Galatians 4:4 NLT

4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

γενόμενον ἐκ γυναικός-born of a woman

γενόμενον ὑπὸ νόμον - born under the law

1- “The Old Testament contains over 300 references to the Messiah that were fulfilled in Jesus.”

Josh. McDowell

a. The Messiah would be the “Seed of a Woman.” Prophecy, Genesis 3:15 Fulfillment, Galatians 4:4; Revelation 12:5

Genesis 3:15 NLT

15 And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Galatians 4:4 NLT

4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

Revelation 12:5 NLT

5 She gave birth to a son who was to rule all nations with an iron rod. And her child was snatched away from the dragon and was caught up to God and to his throne.

b. The Messiah would be born by a virgin. Prophecy, Isaiah 7:14 Fulfillment, Matthew 1:18-19.

Isaiah 7:14 NLT

14 All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).

Matthew 1:18–19 NLT

18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

c. The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Prophecy Micah 5:2 Fulfillment Matthew 2:1.

Micah 5:2 NLT

2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.

Matthew 2:1 NLT

1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,

d. The Messiah would be born during a time of massacre. Prophecy, Jeremiah 31:15 Fulfillment, Matthew 2:16.

Jeremiah 31:15 NLT

15 This is what the Lord says: “A cry is heard in Ramah— deep anguish and bitter weeping. Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted— for her children are gone.”

Matthew 2:16 NLT

16 Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance.

e. The Messiah would come from Egypt as a child. Prophecy Hosea 11:1 Fulfillment Matthew 2:14

Hosea 11:1 NLT

1 “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.

Matthew 2:14 NLT

14 That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother,

III- AT CHRISTMAS, WE NEED TO REJOICE IN WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US THROUGH JESUS. (Galatians 4:5-7)

Galatians 4:5–7 (NLT)

5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”

7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

5 ἵνα τοὺς ὑπὸ νόμον ἐξαγοράσῃ, ἵνα τὴν υἱοθεσίαν ἀπολάβωμεν.

6 ὅτι δέ ἐστε υἱοί, ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὰς καρδίας ἡμῶν, κρᾶζον· Αββα ὁ πατήρ.

7 ὥστε οὐκέτι εἶ δοῦλος ἀλλὰ υἱός· εἰ δὲ υἱός, καὶ κληρονόμος διὰ θεοῦ.

A- God sent Jesus to buy our freedom from bondage to sin. (Galatians 4:5a)

Galatians 4:5 (NLT)

5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

(John 8:34)

Our sin brings us into slavery to sin.

John 8:34 (NLT)

34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.

2- God sent Jesus into the world to buy our freedom!

(John 8:36)

John 8:36 NLT

36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

3- Jesus bought our freedom with his own blood.

(Ephesians 1:7)

Ephesians 1:7 NLT

7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

B- God has adopted believers as His very own children. (Galatians 4:5b)

Galatians 4:5b (NLT)

5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

1- (John 1:12)

John 1:12 (NLT)

12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

(Eph 1:4–5)

Ephesians 1:4–5 NLT

4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

C- God has sent the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts. (Galatians 4:6a)

Galatians 4:6a NLT

6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”

1- (Ephesians 1:13)

Ephesians 1:13 (NLT)

13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.

D- God has established an intimate relationship with each believer. (Galatians 4:6b)

Galatians 4:6b (NLT)

6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”

1- (1 John 3:1)

1 John 3:1 (NLT)

1 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.

E- God has made us His Heir. (Galatians 4:7)

Galatians 4:7 (NLT)

7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

1- (Romans 8:17)

Romans 8:17 (NLT)

17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

CONCLUSION:

I- AT CHRISTMAS, WE NEED TO REFLECT ON WHERE WE WOULD BE WITHOUT JESUS.

II- AT CHRISTMAS, WE NEED TO REMEMBER WHAT LENGTHS GOD WENT TO TO SEND JESUS.

III- AT CHRISTMAS, WE NEED TO REJOICE IN WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US THROUGH JESUS.